TWO young soldiers who had survived a six-month tour of Iraq - one had only returned an hour or so earlier - died when their car struck a deep puddle of water in Bulford.

And a local garage owner claims their lives have been lost needlessly.

Residents say a dip in the road at the spot where the soldiers' car aquaplaned into an oncoming taxi during heavy rain last Wednesday evening always floods and, for several months, has been made even more dangerous because three street lamps in the vicinity were not working.

Killed in the crash were Lance Corporal Nathan Long, 22, and Lance Corporal Paul Knight, 20, both with the Journal-adopted 4th Battalion The Rifles and based at Kiwi Barracks in Bulford Camp.

Both soldiers had served with their battalion in Iraq. Lance Corporal Long returned to Bulford six weeks ago but Lance Corporal Knight arrived back with another group of soldiers just an hour or so before the fatal crash.

They had just left a barbecue in their barracks celebrating the end of their six-month tour in Iraq, and were heading home to their families.

As they drove out of Bulford along Marlborough Road towards the A303, their Vauxhall Corsa struck the deep puddle of floodwater and skidded across the road into a Mercedes taxi being driven in the opposite direction.

Both young soldiers died at the scene - the 58-year-old taxi driver, who is a local man, had to receive treatment at Salisbury District Hospital but was not detained.

Martin Marsh, who runs a garage just 50 yards from the fatal crash spot, said the two soldiers had died "as a result of this puddle and because no-one has bothered to replace three street lamp bulbs."

Mr Marsh, who has run his garage for more than ten years, added there had been several accidents at the spot during spells of heavy rain. He said the dip always became flooded when it rained, sometimes up to a depth of ten to twelve inches.

He said: "I have reported this to military and civilian authorities on many occasions, and have also reported three street lamps, which should illuminate that stretch of road, are not working.

"Had the lights been working they would have shown the deep water lying in the road. This was a totally unnecessary accident.

"These two boys were just back from Iraq where they had served their country for six months fighting a war - and they die on a road in their camp.

"Something has to be done about this dip."

He also criticised the authorities for leaving the bodies of the two soldiers on the roadside for nearly five hours.

Mr Marsh said the accident happened just before 7.30pm, and the ambulance had left the scene around about 8.15pm.

He said the police remained at the scene taking measurements and photographs and, during this time, the two bodies remained in the rain, covered with a tarpaulin. He said it was nearly 11pm before the two bodies were taken away and the vehicles removed.

Tributes were paid to both men by their Commanding Officer, Lieut Colonel Patrick Sanders, who said it was "with a sense of disbelief and almost overwhelming grief" the battalion had learned of their deaths. He added Lance Corporal Long was an "unforgettable figure" who had a quiet strength of character and force of personality "which drew you to him."

He said: "His smile was memorable, it illuminated his face and warmed all around him."

Colonel Sanders went on: "It seems utterly inconceivable Paul, or Knighty as we all knew him, is dead. His lust for life was a byword and he would light up a room with the force of his personality. It is so hard to accept such a bright light has been extinguished in such an untimely way."

nA THIRD soldier died following another road accident on Salisbury Plain last Wednesday.

Wayne Davies, a 34-year-old serving with the Royal Artillery, based at Tidworth, was riding a Yamaha R6 motorcycle along the Bulford to Tidworth range road when he was involved in an accident with a Renault Clio car just before 2pm.

He and the female driver of the car were both taken to Salisbury District Hospital for treatment. The soldier died in hospital the following day with his family at his bedside.

The accident happened near the MMTT range access road and police closed the road for several hours so a detailed investigation of the scene could be made.